To wonder why so many people don't carry any cash on them?

[InHibernationTilISummer]

Excluding people who are skint and the Queen, obviously.

I've had so many examples of this in the last few weeks:

• Colleague who came into the work in the bad weather. Lots of delays and problems on the bus route they normally get so wanted to get the train instead but had no money for a ticket because they had come in with their season bus pass and lunch and hadn't expected to be spending any money.
• Friend turning up for exercise class but hasn't realised that the price has gone up 50p since she last came - and she only brought the exact money she thought she would need.
• Another friend dropping older child off at sport class finds that there's a fair going on at the sports centre with stalls and activities that her younger child (who was with her) would have enjoyed. Complains that she wishes she had known about it in advance as she would have taken some money out with her.

Is this becoming more common or is it just the people I know? If you aren't skint but don't routinely carry money on you, why is that?

I've been in situations where I haven't expected to be spending any (or much) money and some problem has occurred or plans have changed for some reason (e.g. having to accompany someone to A & E or the last bus not turning up) and I would have been really stuck if I hadn't taken some spare 'emergency' cash.

For me it's a hangover from when I had very tight finances, and getting £50 out rather than ten not only meant that it would burn through my fingers more quickly, but could be the difference between paying and missing a direct debit. Those days are long gone, but I've never lost the habit. Plus probably a slight ingrained fear of losing it or having it stolen. But also largely laziness, bad organisation and an entirely false sense that putting it on a card isn't really spending it.

I only use a card.

I hate getting a wad of notes in change only slightly less than I hate getting a pile of coins. I have a small wallet that fits my cards and I don't want it ruined by bulging notes or coins.

I have a stash of coins in the car for trolleys and the occasional parking meter that takes coins still.

We carry cash. Get x amount out on a friday and no more until the following friday. Helps us budget. You spend about 20% less a week using cash as you can see it decreasing easier.

I waste cash when I have it. I wouldn’t know how often to go to the cash machine or how much to take out to always have ‘some on me’

The only times I use cash are child related.

£1 lockers and 20p hairdryers at the pool.
£3 subs for Beavers.
£1 dress-up days at school.
Pocket money at the weekend.
2p machines in the amusement arcade.

I will use card for literally anything else.

It looks much better and cleaner on your bank statement and for your credit score to just have one transaction of cash withdrawal rather than a huge list of little amounts on your bank statement. If you are looking to get out a mortgage for example, financial advisors would say to take out cash each monthly to keep your transactions to a minimum and to keep your statements looking clean.

Well this is absolute bollocks.

How do you cashless lot manage when you go to Europe? Many places there are cash only; contactless doesn't yet seem to exist in Belgium, and in Germany I had to use a mixture of cash and my UK debit card, as some shops couldn't cope with my Belgian debit card.

I need cash if I go to eat locally, as they don't take cards; parking is paid for in cash, as is bread, and the stalls at the local market are cash too. My dry cleaners was cash only as well.

When we were first posted to Belgium in 2006, you had to check the stickers on the doors of the shop to see if they took cards. No stickers, cash only.

Even when in UK, I use cash for parking; our village shop/P.O only takes cash on the shop side, as do the greengrocers I use. The butcher I use has only now got a card machine in 2017, ( and I've used them since 1986). Cheques or cash only til then.

I like cash, have made my UK bank send me a non contactless debit card, and will continue to have cash on me. It makes my life easier.

I only ever carry a very small amount of cash. It is easier to pay for things by debit or credit card.

You do really notice how quickly it is spent though even when being careful. It is much more noticeable than using even the bank debit card.

I never carry cash.

Pay with my phone or card for everything.

How do you cashless lot manage when you go to Europe?

We don't go to Europe

I have one of those phone covers that you can slot bank cards into. I don't own a purse and haven't had one for years.

Contactless is a brilliant invention.

I did say to DH months back, we should keep some cash somewhere in the house in case we need it. It's still sitting there!

I do rely on DH to have the loose change to pay the window cleaner, but apart from that, we don't use cash.

I also find we fritter away cash. Dh seems to think once it’s drawn out of the bank, it’s written off and will waste any remaining cash on lottery tickets and Costa coffees. Both a complete waste in my eyes!

You spend about 20% less a week using cash as you can see it decreasing easier

Well yes, some people do. I spend more if it’s cash, as I’ve said upthread. It completely depends how you manage your finances. I keep very tight control of my bank account using online banking. Cash gets frittered too easily.

I always have cash on me , and if travelling, will always have emergency cash away from main purse, in case I loose my purse/train ticket etc. If the purchase is under £10, I probably always use ash. Maybe this is because I am old fogey, and in the past, you couldn't use cards for small purchases.

That's it I think. For people to say they don't use cash because they never need to, they must never go to places like Spain or Greece, never go to many of the areas where parking meters are cash only like most nature reserves or coastal areas, and where they wouldn't take kindly to paying by card for a coffee in an independent cafe as the fees would take all their profit and never do things like buy a stamp or a newspaper from a small shop, or use the many takeaways that are cash only.

I don't spend differently with either cash or card. It's still money either way and can't see a difference. You can only spend each pound once, no matter how you do it.

I need cash for the bread vending machines as well if the baker is shut.

“Surprised so many people seem to have abandoned cash. Where I am parking meters are mostly cash only and it feels wrong to spend less than about a fiver on a card. Plenty of small shops, cafes etc either don't take cards, or charge extra on small transactions.”

Same here. I expect the non cash carriers either live in London or in a town or city. Out here in the sticks people use a combination of cash and card, or as Barbara says they never go to places that don’t accept cards for trifling amounts. I find it a lot easier to use real money for small sundries, and don’t fritter money away just because it is there. It isn't difficult.

LightasaBreeze, they can't serve you anyway because every transaction has to go through the till. There was a power cut one time when i was in Asda and the tills locked shut as a security measure.

I find it a lot easier to use real money for small sundries, and don’t fritter money away just because it is there. It isn't difficult

You do realise though that everyone’s different? I don’t find it easier to use cash, and I do find myself frittering money just because it’s there, unfortunately. My using card rather than cash does not affect anyone else, and I pay my way always.

Oh and I spent a lot of time in Spain, have lived there for 3 years in fact, and managed to mainly use card there too!

How do you cashless lot manage when you go to Europe? Many places there are cash only; contactless doesn't yet seem to exist in Belgium, and in Germany I had to use a mixture of cash and my UK debit card, as some shops couldn't cope with my Belgian debit card

Like you said, I use a mixture of card and cash. I just adapt to suit the situation of course!
Since January I have been to Spain twice, Brussels, Ireland, and Berlin. I drew out €150 and still have a bit left. I use card for the apartments, transport, and food and rink in most places.
On an average week in the Uk I have a tenner as'emergency money' and see how long I can keep hold of it! It's almost like a competition with myself. I think the longest I lasted without breaking it was 5 weeks!

Birdsgottafly - depends on the shop - we could, would and have served cash customers during a power cut in our little shop.

(Though to be fair, last time, we also served 2 customers without cash - they were regulars and left us a promise to pay note with name/address and phone number)

I just use my card for everything so no need for cash. If I get cash out it's only ever for school trips, clubs and pocket money.

That's it I think. For people to say they don't use cash because they never need to, they must never go to places like Spain or Greece, never go to many of the areas where parking meters are cash only like most nature reserves or coastal areas, and where they wouldn't take kindly to paying by card for a coffee in an independent cafe as the fees would take all their profit and never do things like buy a stamp or a newspaper from a small shop, or use the many takeaways that are cash only.

For many people going to Spain or Greece would be a holiday and you often act different when away to suit the area.
I took the question to mean how to people mange on a day to day basis.